The Great Outdoors

One of the first ever federal parks, Rock Creek is chock full of activities like tours, hikes and horseback riding.

A popular gathering place for families, friends and dog owners, Rock Creek Park also runs its famed Horse Center, which conducts trail rides, lessons and tours. There are even pony rides for the little ones. The 1,700-acre park also has tennis courts, a golf course, playgrounds, planetarium and hiking trails, too.

A favorite for outdoors people, Thompson has a slew of kayaks, canoes and even small sailboats that customers can take out on the Potomac River.

Wade along the shores of Georgetown while getting in your exercise at Thompson Boat Center. Spy sights like the Watergate Hotel and the Kennedy Center, an architectural marvel. Venture as far as the Jefferson Memorial or Georgetown Reservoir. Rental prices start at only $14 per hour.

Kick back and ride the waves without lifting a paddle on a cruise operated by the Potomac Riverboat Company.

Take a narrated sightseeing cruise with spectacular views of the Kennedy Center, Watergate, the Washington Monument, Capitol and Jefferson Memorial. Or, travel by water taxi to Old Town Alexandria and stroll along King Street.

Located at the summit of Georgetown, this estate features a most spectacular garden along with a world-class museum.

The historic estate is revered for formal, terraced gardens, meadows and its soothing stream. The former tenants of the mansion and property, Robert and Mildred Bliss, donated the estate to the current proprietor, Harvard University, in 1940.

Originally owned by Martha Washington’s granddaughter, Tudor Place showcases horticultural mastery and a mansion brimming with antiques. Meander past the Tennis Lawn, which is where President Grover Cleveland used to watch matches, and stop in the Japanese Tea House, lined with white lilacs, coral honeysuckle and yellow rose.

True to its name, you can take this park from Rosslyn, Virginia all the way out to George Washington's digs at Mount Vernon. Don your sneakers for a walk or run; otherwise, rent a bicycle from Bike and Roll in Old Town Alexandria and plan a few stops along the trail such as the Dyke Marsh, the Navy-Merchant Marine Memorial and Gravelly Point.